Our castaway this time is Ian Childs, Pastor of Horsell Evangelical Church, near Woking in Surrey, and a native of South Wales. (published Winter 1998)
It is a pleasure to contribute to this series, especially as I owe a great debt to Geoffrey Williams, the founder of the Evangelical Library. Through an initial contact by my late mother in the mid 1960's, I recieived from Mr. Williams many of the rare Puritan books and some of the Nichol Series of Standard (Puritan) Divines, which are in my library. I also treasure the letters that he wrote to me, especially that dated 25th December 1968.
It should be no surprise that one of my choices is a book by Dr. Lloyd-Jones, another person associated with the formation and development of the Library. In a conversation with him at my home in May 1977, I suggested that his best published work at the time was God's Way of Reconciliation, his sermons on Ephesians 2. He graciously concurred with that opinion and wrote an inscription on the title page. However, I have revised my opinion. Of all the Doctor's published work, the book that has had the greatest effect upon me was The New Man, his sermons on Romans 6. I vividly remember my first reading of the book when it was published, and its liberating effect on me. As I read the book, I was conscious of the Lord dealing with me in a new way. No other book has had the same effect or brought such rich blessing. I understand that other people have had a similar experience when they read the book. That is no surprise to me.
Among contemporary writers, I always try to read everything that Richard Muller writes. He is the distinguised professor of Historical Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. In this area of expertise, I think that he stands head and shoulders above many other writers. From all of Muller's writings my choice is Christ and the Decree: Christology and Predestination in Reformed Theology from Calvin to Perkins. However, the author acknowledged to me in conversation at the seminary during the summer (1998) that in some respects the book is incomplete, and that he is doing further research on it.
Nevertheless it deals with two doctrines that I regard as very precious from a historical theology angle. No truths surely warm the heart of a believer, even on a desert island, more than those concerning Christ and the purposes of God. What could be of greater assurance to the believer than to know of God's appointment to salvation prior to birth, and that Christ is the centre of all God's purposes?
Muller carefully outlines the views of Calvin and Calvin's contemporaries, Beza, Ursinus, Zanchi, Polanus, and Perkins on these remarkable spiritual truths. It is regrettable that some contemporary writers have presented a discontinuity between Reformation and post-Reformation theology, or as Muller says, "In a more restricted sense, between Calvin and the Calvinists". If Muller, however, publishes a revised or expanded edition of Christ and the Decree, I trust that he will have my isolated address. I also hope that a boat will at least visit the island to deliver the book, even if it refuses to take me on board as a passenger!
On my first visit to the USA in 1992, I visited sites associated with the ministry of Jonathan Edwards. It was a moving experience to see his writing desk at New Haven. I only wish that the timber and drawers of that desk could speak! At that time I met some of those working on a new edition of Edwards' works, and since then I have received the new volumes as they are published. I still treasure the two volume edition of Edwards' works, which I bought in a second-hand bookshop in Wales around 1965. However, like many other people I find it difficult to read the small print. Trying to read the two volumes, probably in bright sunlight, on a desert island would be difficult. For my third choice therefore I would prefer to take Volume 14 in the Yale edition, Sermons and Discourses 1723-1729.
This is the second volume of sermons in the Yale series, and gives only a representative selection of Edwards' sermons. Obviously all of the surviving sermons of Edwards will not come into print, and I realise that I will be reading the Sermons Committee choice. However, these sermons from an early and formative period in Edwards' life are still very beneficial. Their themes include: A Spiritual Understanding of Divine Things Denied to the Unregenerate, All God's Methods are Most Reasonable, The Threefold Work of the Holy Ghost, and The Sacrifice of Christ Acceptable. One sermon, Living Peaceably One With Another, will prepare me for my anticipated return to civilisation. Although I have also chosen a volume of sermons by Dr. Lloyd-Jones, I think of the Doctor's book more as a mini systematic theology on the aspects of salvation that it covers.
For my fourth choice I would take Worship and Theology in England (three double volumes) by Horton Davies, which cover the period from 1534 to the present. I regard this set as an outstanding contribution, and a veritable mine of information on the subject. It must have been a labour of love for Davies to complete the six volumes. To use a favourite word of the Puritan Thomas Goodwin, Davies' work is "comprehensive". In expounding a text with several possible meanings, Goodwin preferred to accept all the meanings. This was the text's "comprehensive meaning". Davies deals with his subject in a similar way. Furthermore, Davies has an attractive and wasy style, which makes the reading of the books a real pleasure.
If I want to remind myself therefore of the Anglican/Puritan Controversy, of Puritan Worship/Preaching, of the Old Dissent, or even the theology of Chuch Architecture, I will turn to Davies. Worship and Music have become contentious issues in the contemporary Church, but Davies will remind me how the Church faced these issues in the past and dealt with them. His work is truly a magisterial study of liturgical issues.
My choice would be incomplete without a book reminding me of my homeland. Here I would choose Some of the Great Preachers of Wales, by Own Jones. I think that Jones made a wise selection of seven preachers he mentions, including the lesser known Robert Roberts (Clynnog) and Henry Rees (Liverpool). After a short introduction of Welsh preaching, there are potted biographies of the preachers with a description and assessment of their style of preaching. The book is quite stimulating, and a reminder of what God did in the principality through the preaching of men who were wholly dedicated to Him. At a time when the Christian Church seems to have lost confidence in preaching, and where there as a "sameness" and "dryness" in much of the preaching that remains, the book reminds us of the nature of true preaching. It will still be very useful on a desert island, because the most difficult part in preaching is to preach the truth first of all to yourself.
At a time when there are too many books on the market, it has been a good discipline to consider this selection for use on a desert island. Richard Baxter gave salutary advice when herecommended the reading and mastery of a few books. With many books now being put on CD, I assume the island will lack electricity and so the choice of which five CD-ROMS to take will not arise!
