Christian Biography

The Autobiography of John Paton

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I know it’s a bit grandiose to say, but I must label this the best autobiography around. I’ve not read all autobiographies, of course, but I’d probably be ready to debate you if you nominated a contender. I’m not a particularly great debater, but I bet I’d win that one simply on the merits.

What are you looking for? Thrills? There’s no shortage here. But there’s something more here. This book is on an epic man, written exquisitely, and yet the author has no earthly idea he’s a great man. To his mind, he only has a great God. I’m not talking about laying it on thick with super-spiritual prose, but a man throughly impressed with our Lord line by line. I’d like to be John Paton when I grow up. I’m 55 but only a child compared to this mature man whose spiritual timbre lifts your heart up toward Christ.

His story is told in three parts. Each part has its own distinct flavor. The first part tells us about his childhood and the wonderful family he came from. It also told his preparation for his mission work. Even this part of the story was totally engaging.

Then he goes to the island of Tanna in the New Hebrides. Instantly I noticed two things in reading this part of his story. First, the hardships he faced were off the scale. He lost his wife and child. At times, it seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I lost count of the times it looked like he was going to die. One of those stories would’ve made his life story interesting, and yet there were so many. Second, the lack of tangible results also stood out. When he left to go to Australia for a furlough and to raise money, he had far more stories than converts. The part that is so challenging is how his faith held so incredibly strong.

The second part of his story is taking those trips and returning to a different island, Aniwa. He had taken on a new wife by this point and still faced several hardships. He had a few close calls, but nothing like the earlier times. One of my favorite parts is how he dug a well, and how that was used to lead those on the island to Jesus. I’ll not describe the details to avoid a spoiler, but you will be so moved by that story. I sure know I was. The other part of the story that is so different is that the island basically turned to Christ. Though I admire Mr. Paton so much, reading his story presses me to say, what a mighty God we serve!

In the last part of the story he tells about his later years when he traveled around the world, preaching and sharing the story of what God did in those islands. While not as thrilling as the first two parts, it’s still such an enjoyable read. He still just trusted God moment by moment. Don’t skip any of it or you won’t notice him meeting George Mueller or Charles Spurgeon. There is one more twist to the story. When the ship he spent so much time raising money for unexpectedly sank, I almost felt a wave of sadness myself. Again, he gave such an example in how to handle even something of that magnitude.

This book is completely beyond criticism. The world at large doesn’t know the story of John G. Paton, but it’s one of the greatest stories I have ever read.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Tim Keller on the Christian Life by Matt Smethurst

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This book will make a lot of people happy. People who love Tim Keller are going to see this summary of his salient teachings as an addendum to his biography, especially if they read those copious endnotes, and be happy. Those looking for some rich devotional writing with the best theological precision will be happy. You’re probably catching on, but this book makes me happy.

I admire Keller, but for some weird reason I’ve listened to many of his sermons online while not getting around to reading his works. After reading this book, that process was certainly a mistake. What was I thinking? This work convinced me that I will read him going forward. Each chapter, as best as I can tell, synthesizes his most beloved books. These chapters leave you clamoring for more. I guess this book makes the publishers of Keller’s books happy too.

This book is well written. It doesn’t only propel you to Keller’s books, but says much itself. These chapters stirred me. I prayed some prayers of repentance for the challenge and conviction I encountered (sans the guilt that you know this moralism-hater was incapable of throwing) after several chapters.

I can’t tell you which chapters were the weakest as I found none I didn’t love. I can’t tell you which chapter I love most as I loved so many of them immensely. I can tell, though, that most of them found this reviewer wanting. If I were forced to list its worst feature I guess I’d say endnotes are annoying to keep flipping to when they are so many and too delicious to miss.

Rarely does a book so gallantly reach its aims, but here’s one that did.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Shapers of Christianity by Nick Needham

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What an interesting little book! I love books that take several faith heroes and in a chapter try to pique our interest. Mr. Needham aced that assignment. How or why he picked these twelve men is beyond me. I think he tried to pick from various epochs of church history, but beyond that I have no idea. I guess he picked mostly theologians, but then he threw in John Wesley who is remembered more for piety and revival. He even alternated the well known with the not so well known. The unusual setup notwithstanding, this book was a joy to read.

Mr. Needham is well equipped to write this book since he has produced the much larger “2000 Years of Christ’s Power”. I have not seen that work, but judging by this book, it must be a good one.

One little icing on the cake that I noticed is that he often surveyed their writings. That was especially helpful when covering someone not known to you. The only problem is that it might add many listings to your buy list.

While he judged every biographical subject by their adherence to Reformation thinking, he did dip outside those actual boundaries. That made for some of the most interesting chapters in the book. Theophylact (completely unknown to me) was one of the most engaging in this volume. It was so good that it made you wonder, why have I never heard of this guy?

He had some of the usual suspects as well. There was Jonathan Edwards, B. B. Warfield, and J. Gresham Machen among others.

He did really well in a short space of showing why these men are compelling to know, and to know more about. This book will not take you long to read, but mark it down in the pleasant category. 

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

J.C Ryle Classics Bundle

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J. C. Ryle is finally getting his due. Many have enjoyed his work on the Gospels that have been available in one form or another for many years. Banner of Truth has taken on the task of gathering and reprinting many other works of this fervent man. They cut no corners either. He gets the deluxe treatment in these quality bindings with attractive dust covers. To be sure, they look sharp on the shelf, but they are best found in your hands.

Obviously, these books are individual releases, but Banner always gathers them in a lot they call the J. C. Ryle Classics Bundle and offers them in a more affordable way. To me their pricing structure is quite commendable considering the quality of their physical books as compared to the slipshod offerings of some Christian publishers.

Just as I received this set, one volume, “Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century”, went out of print (Banner usually brings great books back into print, and it is already back). Still, it was replaced in the classics bundle by a brand new release, “The Christian Race”, that I’ll check out later. Ryle had a second niche in biographical writing. I suppose those in this volume (Christian Leaders) are his heroes and who can blame him. A few well known (Whitefield & Wesley) and nine lesser known men who had God’s hand on them are what he covered. There’s a thread between all of them—revival. God did it, of course, but what men!

“Light From Old Times” is another biographical turn toward stalwart spiritual men. While I had heard of several of them, a few were new to me. Another unique feature is that several of them were martyrs. I must admit that such biography is on a higher plane, even dripping with ethereal beauty. Ryle is not here in a cradle-to-grave vein, but more an admirer explaining why they stand so tall. And tall they do stand, straight and stately.

Perhaps the most famous title in this collection is “Holiness”. I’ve heard it lauded by many for as long as I can remember. It’s not a doctrinal treatise on holiness, but dives deep into practical holiness. Lamentable as it is, most such books aren’t popular, but this one caught on. Strangely enough, this book has an impact far beyond its original target. He addresses certain shallow displays of Christianity popular in his day that’s not of particular interest these days, but the book is in no way hobbled by it. The reason for that success is the timelessness of the biblical material. It’s still just sermons, but they do somehow weave a unified whole that has something meaningful to say about practical holiness. Some sermons here use a Bible character—Moses, Lot, Lot’s wife— to great effect while others tackle a concept directly. Let’s call this one pure gold.

Next is “Practical Religion”. These 21 sermons are a cross between textual and topical. In my opinion, Ryle was especially good in these type sermons. To me, these type sermons are hard to put together and Ryle must have given lots of time to them. The subjects covered are all those he calls “practical religion”. He suggests it might best follow reading “Holiness”. The first sermon “Self-Inquiry” is almost totally topical, but what a catchy verse launches the sermon. The next one on “Self-Exertion” is more textual and revolves around the “strait gate”. The next sermon (“Reality”) is shorter, but piercing. For the preacher, it might suggest several sermons. A specialty of his is going after false professors. Then there are some straightforward sermons that might help even new Christians. In that stretch I thought the sermon on zeal stood out. In the sermon “Formality” the spiritual temperature rises again. In a sermon on the world he sensibly covers separation. That’s not always sensibly presented by many, but he is well balanced here. The sermons continue to be practical. The last 6 are on a clear trajectory to Christ’s Return and Heaven (except for those who went another way in The Great Separation).

“Knots Untied” is the Banner title that introduced me to Ryle outside his work on the Gospels. It piqued my interest and brought me back for more.

“The Upper Room” is a tidy collection of sermons and addresses gathered in old age from across his ministry. Two popular offerings of Ryle are included here: “The Duties of Parents” and “Thoughts for Young Men” that are often reprinted alone. I read them to advantage years ago. Before those two sermons are some exciting offerings by Ryle. Almost out of place among them, though, is an address on the simplicity of preaching. He got very practical with that article, but it does lay out some good things for any new preacher to consider. The sermons were my favorite in this book. While perusing these sermons, I felt a keen desire to return to these texts and preach them someday myself. That’s always a good sign of a successful sermon.

I’m not surprised that one of these volumes was entitled “Old Paths”. That is where he lived even in his day. Can you imagine what he’d say about our day? I suspect he’d be right too. The subjects are ones you’d think would never go sideways among believers as they are the core beliefs—inspiration, sin, forgiveness, justification, conversion, faith, repentance, etc.— though they often do. These are topical sermons. Few really do topical sermons well, but Ryle consistently does. There’s a mass of thoughtful learning here given in a pastoral style.

Finally, “Charges and Addresses” might not be the best of these books as it is certainly a hodgepodge. I’m guessing only those who really love Ryle will be attracted to this book. But here you are thinking about getting this lovely J. C. Ryle Classics Bundle, so I guess that would be you. Only the most revered authors get these type sermons in print. That’s Ryle.

You see loving hands putting this Ryle set together. Their work provides beauty for us all. Ryle loves Jesus, His Word, and possesses a pastoral tenderness that suggests he’s quite fond of us as well. You can’t go wrong here.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Alexander Stewart by James Sievewright

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Alexander Stewart…a man we didn’t know before, but are blessed to meet here. Banner of Truth keeps gifting us with a steady supply of biographies of unknown giants. Calling them “giants” is not hyperbole. Don’t let their relative unknown status fool you. They are men of renown in Heaven, something like a continuation of Hebrews 11. Alexander Stewart is a worthy addition to the publisher’s growing collection.

If you have read some of the previous biographies from this publisher, you know to expect a few things. The man is going to be pious, zealous, and living a life consumed by the Lord Jesus Christ. In most cases, revival taking place during his life, even though justly credited to the Lord, is consistently found. All of that is true of Mr. Stewart.

What is different about him from some of the other biographical subjects they have published? Probably the thing that stands out the most to me is how he came to Christ. He was a pastor before he became a Christian. That certainly is not ideal, but the story itself is fascinating. You will always be saying to yourself as you read, I think he’s close, and yes, he reaches the point of becoming a believer and jumps right into a very dedicated life. You almost wonder if this book could be a help because it seems likely that we live in an age where many people are even perhaps deeply involved in Christian work while they do not yet know the Lord.

From there, the biography is more to the general pattern, but it is a pattern that we should hope starts happening more again. Only God can bring revival, but this is what it looks like. A book like this will make you crave it.

This book, like the others, is beautiful and is of impeccable binding. It’s a little smaller in height and looks a little different while retaining a definite attractiveness. It may not take quite as long to read as some of the others, but it is an absolute blessing. I say keep sending these biographies our way, and while we are at it , let’s pray that the Lord starts sending these revivals again.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Log College by Archibald Alexander

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This Banner of Truth biography is to some degree different than their usual offerings. In this case, it’s more sketches of a variety of men who were all unheralded heroes who all had associations with a school colloquially known as the Log College. This school did not have the reputation of more famous ones, but in lacked nothing in effectiveness. In fact, the school was quite looked down on, but not for cause. The training it offered was rigorous, and more importantly, the ministry of its graduates impressive. In a word, revival describes its legacy.

After a short chapter on the Log College overall, we get 5 chapters on William and Gilbert Tennent. They were founders of the school with vision and persistence. Next, we learn about the College of New Jersey and the New Jersey and the New London School which sprang from the Log College. From here, we get more sketches of outstanding early graduates who were able servants of Christ with a near constant air of revival permeating from their ministries.

When the life of John Tennent was given, he seemed eerily similar to David Brainerd to me. He had a short life and thought so poorly of himself, yet did a tremendous work for the Lord. Next up is William Tennent, Jr. His story was at once thrilling and colorful. You’ve just got to read that section on the time that he was thought to be dead, but was not. I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but you will not want to miss that one. And there were several other totally unusual features of his life all the while he was an able servant of Jesus Christ.

From here, there are seven shorter sketches of impactful men. The consistent quality of their ministries is what stands out. Probably unknown outside this volume, these men clearly hold renown in Heaven.

This book encourages on many levels. Some of the greatest servants of Christ are little known and near forgotten. Apparently, it is the Lord that got the glory for their lives and that is how it should be. This book is a corrective for our media-driven and marketing age that has invaded the Church. We can make an impact outside of those cheap methods. This book is worth your time.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Alexander Moody Stuart: A Memoir

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I have long loved these gorgeous Banner of Truth biographies and this one stands out. Spurgeon spoke highly of Stuart and I can see why. I’ve even used a few of his commentaries and they strike the perfect balance between being weighty and warm. This humble servant of Christ is worth knowing.

The biographer is the subject’s son. Often that is a disaster. He, however, never allowed the hyperbole to start rolling. His respect is through the roof, but this isn’t a work of hagiography. Though Stuart lived an exceptional Christian life, his weaknesses though not serious were clear to me in this work. He was gentle and I don’t think he enjoyed conflict even if he got drawn in to it. He never completely dodged anything, but he didn’t perhaps dig in his heels like some of his contemporaries did.

His early life is brief and the story really takes off in his college days. His conversion wasn’t spectacular, but incredibly interesting to read. Quickly, he jumps into serving the Lord. He begins his ministry in Edinburgh and marries. A love of missions soon takes shape. Later he becomes passionate for mission to Jewish people. Along the way, there’s thrilling exposure to revival.

You’ll cross other names as his life seemed to intersect with other awesome servants of Christ regularly. There’s devotion throughout as well as he is an encouragement toward prayer, service, impact and holiness. He is the kind of man I’d like to be.

Banner publishes or reprints one or more biographies a year. Making them part of my reading for the year has richly blessed me over several years. Count this one in that exalted company!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Daniel Rowland by Eifion Evans

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Here’s another offering in the long line of biographies of Christian heroes by Banner of Truth of men who are, sadly, far too little known. They seem to especially mine Welsh preachers, not because Wales is better than anyplace else, but because of the landmark revival experienced there. The Great Evangelical Awakening there had less of the excesses of some revivals, which, perhaps, partially corresponds to the main players in it. They were dedicated, magnetic while maintaining humility, doctrinally consistent, and zealous. In what stands out from the pack, their zealousness was fully for Christ rather than an unholy mixture of carrying the Gospel and self promotion. Daniel Rowland is a good fit in this string of biographies.

Eifion Evans has written previously on Revival as it was clearly his niche. The full title is “Daniel Rowland and the Great Evangelical Awakening in Wales.” In my opinion, this book succeeds more on the history than on pure biography of Rowland. I suspect a lack of source materials is the culprit. The trail of humble men doesn’t often lead back to themselves.

Still, Rowland was an incredible man worthy of our revisiting his life. He was, as you will see in this biography, far more stable than Howel Harris. In my view, Rowland was on the right side of the divide with Harris.

There’s plenty of exciting revival described here. To the author’s credit, the bumps along the way were given too. The division that popped up didn’t diminish the beauty of the revival as I read as it only reminded me that we have a wickedly diligent enemy that probably hates revival as much as anything. You could also see the enemy could not ultimately prevail.

Beautiful book. Beautiful cover. Beautiful read. What more could you want?

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Thomas Charles of Bala by John Aaron

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Having recently read Thomas Charles’s Spiritual Counsels, I was excited to get into this new biography of this formerly unknown-to-me servant of Jesus Christ. Rather than a reprint from earlier times, this book is a fresh production by John Aaron. The preface showed that Aaron’s previous work has been more geared to translation and editing so I began reading wondering if he could handle the unique task of biography writing. When I finished this book, I wondered no more. He could and did. It matches the quality of many of the fine Banner of Truth biographies in print.

The quality of biographical writing is one thing while the biographical subject is distinctly another. What of Thomas Charles? Let’s just say I tip my hat to this humble but zealous man whose life was all wrapped up in Jesus Christ. He is not as well known as some other preachers but deserves to be in their circle. Why is this so? My conjecture after reading this biography is that he was less bombastic than others but not less effective. He probably didn’t dominate a room when he entered, nor did he feel the need to. In modern parlance, he was comfortable in his own skin. In more spiritual language, he was aware of his God-given spiritual gifts and he quietly, persistently put them to steady use for God’s glory. We must get through our fleshly fascination with the spectacular to fully appreciate the faithful following of “the still, small voice”. When we emerge from that fog, we find that the results are often more rooted and can extend farther. Think of Charles as an Elisha following the Elijahs who called down the fire in great Welsh revivals.

Like Elisha’s vision in the school of the prophets, Charles’s innovation in the creation of Sunday Schools to teach doctrine and reading so as to enable Bible reading was a master stroke that affected Wales for generations. His wisdom in Bible printing for the common people in Wales showed incredible spiritual perception as well. Charles lived in Bala, which was the spiritual wasteland of Wales even after the great revivals, but by Charles’s death Bala was the most lush green field of spirituality in Wales.

His life story was instructive as well. His is a test case for the value of diligent labor enveloped by a love of his Lord. He died shy of his 59th birthday and its cause humanly speaking was overwork. Yet he died triumphantly, without an ounce of regret, on his sick bed saying, “There is a refuge”. Well, there is. This biography reminds us.

Like in so many biographies of great servants of God, we see the valleys of suffering walked through. Death of children, the poor health of his wife, early ministry setbacks, and his own bouts of debilitating heath including severe frostbite of his hand was the shape of his agonies. As always in these great lives, these sufferings were the anvil on which the Spirit hammered a spiritual masterpiece.

This is a wonderful biography. Much of the last chapter strikes me as an appendix to prove his orthodoxy in doctrine, but who would doubt it by the end of his life’s story? I need biographies like this one. They remind me of things I’m prone to forget. I predict you will love this lovely biography as well.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Lost Sermons of Spurgeon: Volume 4- Collector’s Edition

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It is so wonderful to see this awesome series resumed after a delay. It turns out that a change in editorship most likely brought on the hold up, but what we loved in the first three volumes is still on hand here. I especially love the beauty and durability of these collector’s editions , but if you need to save a few dollars there is a regular edition as well. To me, the collector’s is worth the extra expense.

While the sermons here might not be quite as good as his later ones that have been long in print, they are unmistakable Spurgeon and contain much more than potential. The focus on the Cross and the call to repent and be saved is everywhere just like you’d expect from him.

Be sure to read the introduction so you can understand what they are trying to accomplish here. Every reader will have their own favorites, but in this volume it is some of the sermons from the old testament prophets that I found truly classic.there are a few where are you a crack a smile like the one on Deuteronomy 22:11 called “Linsey-Woolen Forbidden”!

The work is simply gorgeous as well there are photographs of his sermons as well as indispensable notes on every sermon. You will learn a lot of things about Spurgeon in those notes as they are impeccably researched.

They have re-calibrated this series and it will now ultimately be nine volumes. We are almost halfway there and what a jewel the set will be! Plus, it will be easier on the wallet to secure these volumes one by one as they are released and at the end what a treasure you will have!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.