The Dawn of Redeeming Grace

For those of you who enjoy reading an Advent devotional in the run up to Christmas, Sinclair Ferguson has written The Dawn of Redeeming Grace for this year, which has 24 readings opening up the first two chapters of Matthew's Gospel (click on the image for more info).

Buy one of these devotionals before the end of November and we will send you a

£5 National Book Token free! *

* You will receive a voucher code to download an eGift card to the value of £5

Our Christmas cards and calendars are selling fast now. If you still need some, just click on the images below...

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Forgotten Reformer: Myles Coverdale

 Myles (or Miles) Coverdale is a very significant, but largely overlooked, figure in the English Reformation. From a monastic background, he was among the group of scholars at Cambridge in the 1520s who became influenced by Martin Luther's teaching, most of whom were later burnt at the stake for their beliefs. Coverdale only escaped a martyr's death through the intervention of the King of Denmark with Queen Mary. He was exiled to Europe, ending up at Geneva where he joined John Knox' church and came under John Calvin's influence. Here he assisted in the translation of the Geneva Bible. However his greatest feat of Bible translation work had come twenty years before in an earlier exile, joining up with William Tyndale on the continent, and after his death going on to finish what was the first complete Bible in English after the invention of printing. His life was a series of ups and downs: in different phases he was  Bishop of Exeter, but then a penniless teacher in a school in Germany. Through it all he remained the quiet, peaceable character that he was, combined with steely resolve when it came to matters of conscience. His humble determination to serve God, despite not being the literary genius that Tyndale was, is beautifully stated in his Prologue to the 1535 Coverdale Bible, and concludes with a good motto for every Christian:-

It was neither my labour nor desire to have this work put in my hand: nevertheless it grieved me that other nations should be more plenteously provided for with the Scriptures in their mother tongue, than we: therefore when I was instantly required, though I could not do so well as I would, I thought it my duty to do my best, and that with good will.

This study of Coverdale's life and work gives a real insight into the power and providence of God, bringing about and sustaining the Reformation. It would complement the History GCSE topic on King Henry VIII perfectly, to help young people see the greater spiritual movement that took place alongside the political events of that period.

Forgotten Reformer: Myles Coverdale  by G F Main, privately published, 2021. £10.

Particular Baptists and Abolition

For many the lock-downs that we have undergone over the past 18 months have provided an opportunity to do things that they may not otherwise have had time for. For one member of our household this meant a college research project extending far beyond its original remit and becoming a labour of love which has culminated in the publication of a book (perfect when you just happen to have a bookshop to sell it in 😉)...

When we think of the campaign to abolish the slave trade, the tireless work of Wilberforce and his friends is uppermost in our minds. But Particular Baptists played an important role in the campaign, speaking out against the abhorrent trade in sermons, petitions and letters.

This book brings back into print some of these historic sermons, each with a biographical sketch of the preacher, and discusses the role of non-comformists in garnering the support of the wider religious public.

"The slave trade and slavery may have been abolished centuries ago, yet modern slavery still exists along with many other forms of injustice. These sermons challenge us to continue in the Christian duty of benevolence and to affirm Christian attitudes to equality when faced with increasingly disturbing scenes of oppression across the world" (quoted from the preface).

Preaching Deliverance to the Captives: Particular Baptist Sermons on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, compiled and edited by Matthew Roe, £8.99

Did you sponsor a 2021 AV Calendar?

Thank you to everyone who sponsored an AV block Calendar to be sent overseas this year. We were able to send over 50 calendars out to the Philippines and have received a lovely letter from Pastor Ballonado in Bocaue to say they have been safely received. May they richly bless all who receive them.

It's that time of year again!

It's summer, and that can only mean the launch of our Summer Reading Club! This year you get to choose your discount by becoming a Prime member or a PrimePLUS member (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em 😉).

So...

Spend just £15 with us between now and the end of August and you will have qualified for a Prime membership discount of 15% on all your summer book orders.

Or go big and spend £25 with us between now and the end of August and you will have qualified for a PrimePLUS membership discount of 25% on all your summer book orders.

All we ask is that you make sure you are on our emailing list. If you don't think you are then you can easily subscribe on our website homepage.

Please have a read of our Terms and Conditions and then head over to our website to start browsing.

Thomas Clarkson - The Giant with One Idea

12th May 1789 was the day that William Wilberforce made his first speech in parliament against the slave trade. He spoke for three and a half hours! Today therefore seems a fitting day to post a review of the latest Trailblazer book about Thomas Clarkson the abolitionist who worked closely with Wilberforce.

Thomas Clarkson: The Giant with One Idea 

The campaign to abolish the slave trade was motivated by Christian ideals, its arguments presented in Christian language, and, above all, with committed Christians as its leaders. Of these, William Wilberforce, the great abolitionist MP and the campaign’s leader in Parliament, is the most well known. Yet just as important, though sadly overlooked (especially in Christian writing on abolition), was Thomas Clarkson. As this book details for a younger audience, he drove the campaign and turned it into a pioneering popular movement, gathering evidence, witnesses, supporters and petitions. The reader gains a vivid sense of the difficulties this involved, the many dangers and disappointments along the way, Clarkson’s illness and partial retirement, and the crowning triumph when abolition was finally achieved in 1807. His work continued after this, pressuring the government to force other countries to abolish their slave trades. Clarkson also took part in the campaign against slavery itself, although less focus is afforded to it here, which was successful in 1833. Despite this, what is presented is the picture of a dedicated man, committed to helping the downtrodden and oppressed and motivated in this by his Christian faith. It is written in a slightly fictionalised style to engage children, but will be of benefit to parents and young ones alike for discovering the life and oft forgotten efforts of Thomas Clarkson. It is only to be lamented that there is no full length, modern biography of Clarkson for adult readers.

There are some, though no major, historical inaccuracies in this book, primary among them the attribution of the pamphlet encouraging the boycott of sugar mentioned on p. 97 to the Whig MP Charles James Fox (erroneously referred to as Lord Fox at points). This pamphlet, entitled An Address to the people of Great Britain, was in fact authored by William Fox, a printer who attended James Dore’s Particular Baptist chapel in Maze Pond, London (itself a hotbed of abolitionism, with Dore preaching against the trade in 1788). The date of abolition is also given as the 24th February 1807, the date of the second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons, rather than the 25th March, when the Bill was given Royal Assent. However, these minor errors should not detract from the enjoyment that will be found reading this book. The small section on modern slavery at the end reminds the reader of the continued existence of this most inhuman of institutions, and it is to be hoped that the life and efforts of this most important of figures will inspire us both to look back to the valuable lessons of the original anti-slavery campaign, and apply these to the similar issues faced today.

Matthew Roe

Thomas Clarkson: The Giant with One Idea, by Emily Maurits, published by Christian Focus Publications, £5.99

The great smell of books!

We are pleased to report that the shop is open after recent restrictions on retail were lifted, and so our customers will once again be able to enjoy the smell and feel of fantastic books like this one!

Our secondhand book section has recently had a healthy influx, and some of these books are often sought after and difficult to find. These include full sets such as John Gill's commentary, William Huntington's works, John Owen's seven volumes on Hebrews and many more. To check out our full secondhand listing, click here.

Newly published books are also being added to our shelves regularly including some new titles in the Puritan Paperback series, a new biography of Charles Spurgeon and a comprehensive look at how Christianity transformed the world from Sharon James. This link will take you to all our latest books in stock.

Reading Together

Reading Together, our ladies reading club has had an extended hiatus since we finished our last book back in July 2020. But with the arrival of Spring has come renewed enthusiasm for starting a new book! 

The main idea behind the reading club is to encourage ladies of all ages to pick up a book they would not normally get through and enjoy some online encouragement and discussion as we slowly read through it together. It is run as an online blog that can only be viewed by members who have subscribed (which is free), and those who are members also get a bonus discount on the current book. If you like the look of the books you see in the image, (these are the ones we have read so far) then how about joining us for our next one? Just contact us to find out how.

Out of the Smoke

This is an impressive debut novel! Matthew Wainwright has written a gripping and fast paced story of life on the streets of Victorian London. The streets were crime ridden, dangerous places and we follow the life of Billy, a child chimney sweep who gets caught up in a criminal underworld. Gang warfare is rife and moral degeneracy the norm. Billy develops the thick-skin and pride of a fully initiated gang member and refuses help on more than one occasion from the 'Poor Man's Earl', Lord Shaftesbury. His criminality reaches new depths as he is persuaded to use his chimney climbing abilities for more sinister purposes. It is only when he makes the usually fatal mistake of forgetting his way out of the labyrinth of chimneys, that he is forced to make a life changing choice. With a tantalisingly vague ending we are left to assume that he made the right one.

The book finishes with a helpful factual section giving further details on Victorian London, a brief biography of Lord Shaftesbury and also a timeline of notable historical events that relate to the story.

Aimed at 12yrs+ this is a riveting, well researched and brilliantly written novel based on the work of the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury.

Out of the Smoke by Matthew Wainwright, published by Wakeman, £7.99

Check out the author on Instagram (Matthew Wainwright) - he publishes fun quizzes and other resources about his book on there.

Trusting through the Tears - A Repost

It is almost exactly a year since we posted this review. What a year it has been! There may have been many tears, but has there been any 'Trusting through the Tears'? I hope many of us can testify that by God's grace there has. I am reposting this review to bring this helpful book to your attention again...

Keren Baker and her family have experienced many trials of different kinds: bereavement, chronic illness, mental health issues and financial difficulty, to mention a few. Trusting Through the Tears was written to show how God's grace has shone through the trials of their lives. This is not just their story though, and in fact it doesn't give much detail on their particular trials, but it does have much to say on the care and compassion of the Lord they trust. The practical elements of coping with the difficulties of day to day life is woven in amongst the spiritual necessities of handling trials. Indeed we are exhorted to focus on the spiritual when all around us is falling apart, but we are also given practical ways of doing this from Keren's own experiences.

We read about the need to be honest in our weakness and how this weakness will show forth the glory of God better than any show of 'false' strength we have in ourselves. We also learn about how to combat loneliness, with very real examples of how loneliness can be a problem even in a crowd. The practicalities of prayer when struggling mentally or emotionally is not glossed over and we are shown the necessity of recognising the sovereignty of God and submission to the mystery that may surround our circumstances. Peace is considered: what this really means and feels like in a seemingly chaotic situation. The definitions of comfort and true joy in all these things is another topic, plus a recognition that a sense of brokenness can actually in truth, mean a fuller wholeness.
The chapter that really resonated with me highlighted the beauty of spiritual depths found in those who have suffered and the spiritual fellowship that can be found there. It was a reminder to look for those depths in ourselves and others, and not to be satisfied with the shallowness of so much of our routine conversation. The ugliness of suffering causes the beauty of grace to shine ever brighter and will bring a richness to relationships that would not otherwise be there.
I hesitate to write this, but this is a very 'British' book (there is a subtle difference between British and American authors, which is not to say that one is better than the other 😉). In a practical and realistic way, it has a lot to teach us about trials and how we grow through them. I have found it helpfully thought-provoking and would recommend it to those who are suffering or those who are supporting the suffering (which should be all of us!).
Trusting Through the Tears by Keren Baker published by Evangelical Press.

Faith and Hope in the Pandemic

This is a curiously styled but ultimately charming book, if that is the proper word in view of its subject.  It almost seems out of date now, as it was published during the first Covid lockdown. But that is simply a reflection of how much water has gone under the bridge since.  It was released back when the pandemic was raging at its height in northern Italy.  Emotions of shock and fear were strong then, and are no less now, only they have now been joined by weariness and depression at the length and scale of the problems due to the virus.  Three friends came together at that time to contribute short articles to a book on hope. Evangelical authors from the UK, Spain and Italy, they wanted to present a biblical response to the crisis.  Pablo Martinez shows how to catch sight of hope in fearful times from Psalm 91. Jonathan Lamb explains what the past, present and future foundations of hope are from 1 Peter 1 - 'Christ the hope of glory'. Finally Giacomo Carlo Di Gaetano gives some insightful thoughts on how Christian hope can be protected against the insinuations that suffering and evil (in this case from the virus) prove that God is not good.

An epilogue includes the first question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism in full, from which the book title is taken. It is a wonderful statement of what it means to be a Christian - 'rejoicing in hope' (Romans 12:12).

The Only Comfort in Life and Death published by Christian Focus Publications, 2020. £4.99. Much is packed into a slim book. Excellent value for money!

Big Bible Science

Huge apologies - our blogging really dropped off last year, so our New Year's resolution should definitely be to improve it! We are thankful that as a shop we were maintained throughout 2020 despite periods of closure during the lockdowns. 2021 has also had a busy start even though we are closed again and we are grateful for your continuing support. 

We are kicking off the new year with a fantastic offer on some science books - whether you have homeschooled for years or are just temporarily engaged in it, these books will really capture the imagination and add a Biblical perspective to a huge range of scientific topics. From electricity to the digestive system, symbiosis to heat capacity, kinetic energy to animal classification, the books explain scientific concepts through simple experiments, activities and real-life applications.

Click here to check out all the details on our website...

2020 was a big reminder to us all that plans can be made but they will only come to pass 'if the Lord will'. We missed out on taking bookstalls around the country when we usually enjoy catching up with many of our customers in person. This new year we are cautiously and prayerfully hopeful that we can look forward to getting back out on the road and catching up with many of you before the end of the year. In the meantime, we will enjoy keeping in touch by phone or email, or via our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.