William Gadsby - Bitesize Biography

William Gadsby represents all that is best in the 'Gospel Standard' wing of High Calvinist Baptists.
In this book historian Dr Ian Shaw outlines the basics of Gadsby's life, but clearly draws upon his fuller study of Gadsby and Manchester to concentrate more on the character of the man and his pastorate in the context of the period of the industrial revolution.  It is a great pity that that previous study of his contained in 'High Calvinists in Action: Calvinism and the City, Manchester and London 1810-1860,' first published by OUP in 2002, now costs a scandalous price new or secondhand.  But at least some of the material is reworked in this bitesize offering. It is recommended reading. As fair an assessment is given of Gadsby as can be expected from an author not of the same theological persuasion.  Many anecdotes are borrowed from B. A. Ramsbottom's major biography, and so we meet and cannot but like Gadsby for his generosity and respect him as a pastor fighting for his people.  He did not set out to be an activist, but when the welfare of his church was at stake he was willing to speak out and engage with the issues of the day.
Notably little is mentioned of Gadsby's writings, which filled two volumes - not bad for a man who could scarcely read his Bible when converted as a young man!  These writings reflect how fiercely he was assaulted by the adopters of Andrew Fuller's duty faith doctrine, and by 'antinomian-sniffers'.  Hopefully his Works will be reprinted in full in due course, but in the meantime CBO Publications have made some important portions available via our bookshop, and Gospel Standard Publications have produced a book of his sermons plus his very useful catechism.  I have blogged on this before.
At the very least this book gives a balance to much of the anti-Gadsby propaganda that has been put out over the years, and a new generation can benefit from an account of this godly man and perhaps come to appreciate his sovereign grace message - still preached today.
Jeremy

William Gadsby by Ian J Shaw is published by EP Books in their 'Bitesize Biography' series.  Cost £6.99. From us £6.

The New Calvinism Considered

To my knowledge this is the first 'critical but friendly' assessment of New Calvinism to appear in book form, and EP Books are once again to be commended for publishing it.  Jeremy Walker is an English Reformed Baptist pastor who has evidently engaged with this movement for some years and is able to provide a mature guide to it.  He recognises that he is dealing with a spectrum (his favourite word!) of views, originating in the USA in the mid-1980's.  These views centre around a fresh emphasis on Jonathan Edwards and Calvinistic theology.  This enthusiastic movement has experienced remarkable growth especially among younger evangelicals, yet has stood up against the 'seeker sensitive' megachurch phenomenon.  So far so good.
However, Walker has concerns over the direction of the movement at this point in time, as the founding Fathers begin to retire from the scene.  He is very respectful of things like evangelical zeal, and the joy of rediscovery of the puritans, for example, but rightly cautious of charismatic influences, modern worship styles, and the idea of the redemption of culture for Christ.  He notes that New Calvinism has no clearly confessional Reformed theology to underpin it and therefore it is amorphous and unpredictable.  I found it very interesting to learn of New Calvinistic influences on British evangelicalism - the FIEC, Affinity and WEST in particular.  It appears to have affected (infected?) a generation within the churches over here also via the effectiveness of modern media.
There is one evaluation which I would differ from on pp 74-83 - the section on holiness.  Walker is (rightly) concerned about the influence of New Covenant Theology, and the (negative) attitude towards the Moral Law.  He carefully argues that the seed of antinomianism is being sown under the guise of grace, and defends himself against the charge of legalism.  But in this latter he is not successful I think.  Being 'Dead to the law that we might be married to another' does not lead to worldliness.  It distinguishes the sheep from the goats: many may shelter under this doctrine in order to live as they like, but those who have truly received the Spirit 'by the hearing of faith' have, and cannot but have, the bent of their life after gospel precepts.
Overall this is a valuable book.  The list of 'Individuals of Note' is very helpful.  It is not exhaustive, but not exhausting either!
Jeremy
The New Calvinism Considered - A Personal and Pastoral Assessment by Jeremy Walker, published by EP Books, p/b, £6.99

Closed

Well folks, it's over and out from us for 2013.  We are closed from lunchtime Christmas Eve until Thursday 2nd January 2014.  We hope you have a lovely relaxing Christmas with plenty of time to read.

If one of your presents is an eReader, don't forget we sell eBooks too. Our catalogue of eBooks is steadily growing so if we don't have what you want now, check back another time.  If you have National Book Tokens to spend we can accept these too.
A huge thank you to you all for your loyal custom throughout another year.
Jeremy & Lorna

It's not too late yet!

If you're still wondering what to buy Auntie Gladys for Christmas (or anyone else for that matter), I'm sure we have the perfect book & there is still time to get it to you before Christmas.  Browse the website or give us a call - we are always happy to advise, plus we can even gift wrap it and send it straight to Auntie Gladys if that makes life easier for you!
Daily devotional books are always a welcome gift and there is a nice new one available called A Pilgrim's Treasury - this is a complete Bible Survey from Genesis to Revelation using the popular Pilgrim Bible Notes which have been compiled into book form for the first time. Or how about a lovely leather-look gift edition of daily readings compiled from George Whitefield's writings, or Hawker's Morning and Evening Portions, or Philpot's Through Baca's Vale (which you could even get as an eBook - now wouldn't that be convenient). I could keep going with suggestions, but perhaps a look through our Devotional section would help you make a choice.
If you are buying books for children before the end of the year, don't forget that we are currently offering a selection of children's books on a '3 for 2' deal. Have a read of our December eBulletin which gives details of this offer.

Don't forget LAST POSTING DATES are

WEDNESDAY 18th December for SECOND CLASS

FRIDAY 20th December for FIRST CLASS

We can also use our courier to get last minute deliveries to you right up to Monday 23rd December.

Lorna

Advent

Only £1
For less money than an advent calendar you can have from us something vastly more profitable. It is a only a booklet but it will easily see you through the advent season. It is simply titled 'Immanuel', being an extract from Archbishop Ussher in the Apples of Gold Series of reprints. Its contents are highly distilled, as you would expect from a Puritan writer. So just take it steadily with frequent meditation (on the scriptures referred to I need hardly add.) You will be delivered from Christmas sentimentality, and settled upon biblical foundations, and may sense again the mystery and the joy of the incarnation of the Son of God.
Jeremy
Immanuel by James Usher

The Perfect Law of Liberty - William Gadsby

Ok, so it's taken me three weeks to get to the book at the top of the pile that I mentioned in my last post The Perfect Law of Liberty' by William Gadsby (I got diverted by The New Calvinism Considered - Jeremy Walker, but that's another blog post!). Without giving a full review, I wanted to highlight some excellent passages...

This blessed gospel is a divine chest which contains all the Christian’s treasure, and its riches are durable riches and glory. “Where the treasure is there will the heart be also.” As ye prize your liberty and privileges, may you continue to look into the perfect law of liberty, and be earnest with God, at a throne of grace, that he would grant you fresh discoveries of the real excellences of the truth; for, just in proportion as your mind is drawn aside from the gospel, and you are left to look elsewhere, so you will be brought into bondage and distress; and despite all that men or devils say, just in proportion as the Holy Ghost enables you to look into the perfect law of liberty, so you will find a holy joy in believing, and a solid rest to your mind. Therefore, continue steadfast in the faith, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful. As heirs of God, anticipate your inheritance, and daily examine the contents of your Father’s will. God grant that it may be our happiness to be much in the gospel and to daily enjoy its contents.

Show me a man who is looking into the perfect law of liberty, and, by faith, living on its divine contents, and I will show you a man who is living in the fear of God, abhorring sin, and giving proof that the truth of God does not lead to licentiousness, but to holiness and godliness; for to this are the heirs of promise called. To such a man, the precepts which Christ has taught his church, the ordinances he has instituted, and the means of grace he has appointed, will be attended to with pleasure and delight; nor does he ever find himself at home when this is not the case.

God's beauty and glory are the saints eternal delight; and, fired with a feeling sense of this, they are concerned to walk in all well-pleasing before God, and unblameably among men.

That God may enable us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, in all things showing ourselves a pattern of good works; that we may live in the blessed enjoyment of the true liberty of the gospel; that we may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breath, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God; and that we may live not unto ourselves, but unto the Lord; may the Lord grant it, for the Redeemer’s sake. Amen and Amen.

This little treatise is well worth reading, very relevant and not at all difficult to get through especially considering it was written in the 1800's!
Lorna

Too Much Grace?

Earlier this year I read 'Christ in the Chaos' by Kimm Crandall and loved it.  A few months later I read 'Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in your Home' by Gloria Furman and really enjoyed that too. I still stand by these reviews and consider these to have both been helpful books but I now have another 3 or 4 books sitting on my bedside table all dealing with the struggles women can face in the home and the need to rely on grace.  I have scanned only one of them and have started to feel uneasy.  As I commented recently to a friend, there are so many of these books being published now it starts to feel a little like grace is becoming an excuse for licentiousness (i.e. don't worry about shouting at your kids/having a messy house/arguing with your husband, grace covers all your failings, just hear how bad I am...).
Interestingly I have now come across a blogger who has written about many of the same concerns that I have felt but been unable to clearly express.  These concerns are expressed as part of a book review (a book I have not heard of or read) and although I don't agree with all his points a lot of what he writes is helpful. Have a read...
http://theweeflea.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/boring-grace-a-review-of-one-way-love-inexhaustible-grace-for-an-exhausted-world/
(some of the comments on the post are also interesting)

Grace is not a new (or dare I say American) invention.  Grace is infinite.  Everyone knows Newton's famous hymn 'Amazing Grace! (how sweet the sound!), That saved a wretch like me...'.  In my (ancient) hymnbook, Newton shares a page with 3 other hymnwriters and each has something precious to say about grace:

(click on the picture and it will enlarge big enough to read)

I'm not wanting to suggest that all books on this topic should be banned(!)  But perhaps we need to be careful that we do not, by over-using the term grace, begin to think too lightly of it.

Lorna
By the way, the book that has jumped to the top of my pile has just been recommended by Jeremy 'The Perfect Law of Liberty' by William Gadsby.