Links in the Chain

W.M. Punshon, "Influence of Good Books" in Benjamin Broomhall, ed., Evangelisation of the World, a Missionary Band, p. 214:

I thought how an old Puritan doctor wrote a book years and years ago, called "The Bruised Reed," which fell just at the right time into the hands of Richard Baxter, and brought him under the influence of the enlightening power of the Spirit of God; and then Baxter's ministry was like the sun in his strength, and he wrote a book called "The Call to the Unconverted," which continued to speak long after Baxter himself had ceased to speak with human tongue. That "Call to the Unconverted" went preaching on until it got into the hands of Philip Doddridge (prepared by his pious mother's teaching from the Dutch tiles of a mantel-piece with very quaint Scriptural stories); and it was the means of enlightening him to a broader knowledge, and a richer faith, and a deeper experience of the things of God. And then I thought how Doddridge wrote a book called "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul," which, just at a critical period in his history, fell into the hands of William Wilberforce, who wrote a book called "Practical Christianity," which, far down in the sunny Isle of Wight, fired the heart of a clergyman, who has attained, perhaps, in connection with this society, the broadest and widest reputation of all -- for who has not heard of Legh Richmond? He wrote the simple annals of a Methodist girl, and published it under the title of "The Diaryman's Daughter"; and I should like to know into how many languages that has been translated, and been made of God a power for the spread of truth. The same book on "Practical Christianity" went right down into a secluded parish in Scotland, and it found there a young clergyman who was preaching a gospel that he did not know, and it instructed him in the way of God more perfectly, and he came forth a champion valiant for the truth upon the earth, until all Scotland rang with the eloquence of Thomas Chalmers. Look at it! -- not a flaw in the chain: Richard Sibbes, Richard Baxter, Philip Doddridge, William Wilberforce, Legh Richmond, Thomas Chalmers -- is not that apostolical succession?

John Macleod, Some Favourite Books, pp. 85-86:

Thus a chain goes back from Thomas Chalmers to William Wilberforce, to Philip Doddridge, to Richard Baxter, to Richard Sibbes. Along the links of that chain by pen and in the life the power of the Spirit of God is to be seen.

LINKS IN THE CHAIN

from 17th Century to 19th Century.

RICHARD SIBBES:

The Bruised Reed (1630)

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RICHARD BAXTER

   'It pleased God that a poor pedlar came to the door...and my Father bought of him Sibb's Bruised Reed...It suited my state...and gave me a livelier apprehension of the mystery of redemption and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ...Without any means but books was God please to resolve me for Himself.'

   In 1657 Baxter's Call to the Unconverted was published. Many years later it was blessed to the conversion of

↓

PHILIP DODDRIDGE:

whose Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, printed in 1745, was used to bring into the light of God the soul of

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WILLIAM WILBERFORCE: 

whose Practical View of the prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians...contrasted with Real Christianity, published in 1797, helped to bring from death into light and life the soul of

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THOMAS CHALMERS:

who wrote: 'Somewhere about the year 1811 I had Wilberforce's View put into my hands, and as I got on in reading it I felt myself on the eve of a great revolution in all my opinions of Christianity. I am now most thoroughly of opinion...that on the system of "Do this and live" no peace...can ever be attained. It is, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved".'

 "Ministers are living Books, and Books are dead Ministers; and yet though dead, they speak. When you cannot hear the one, you may read the other."~Matthew Poole

Palmer's Collection of Family Prayers

Those interested in the important subject of family prayer may find this to be an old gem worth dusting off the shelf: Samuel Palmer (1741-1813) compiled selected prayers for use in family worship from a variety of sources, and included as well his own written prayers for particular occasions in A Collection of Family Prayers. The extracts from other authors include Matthew Henry, from his Method of Prayer; Richard Baxter, from his Poor Man's Family-Book (which is an abridgment of Arthur Dent's The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven); Isaac Watts, from his Guide to Prayer; Philip Doddridge, from his Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, and his Address to the Master of a Family; and Henry Grove, from his Discourse Concerning the Nature and Design of the Lord's Supper. Though an advocate of extemporaneous prayer, Palmer aimed to help those who stand in need of such assistance by assembling the combined wisdom of other prayer warriors for the benefit of promoting family devotions, and it is very much worthwhile in our own day to be able to consult with so many useful authors in one volume on this important topic.

Matthew Henry Commentary Challenge

Perhaps the most famous and beloved of any Reformed Bible commentary is that of Matthew Henry. Elsewhere, I have written about the background to its production. Today I write to encourage others to take up the "Matthew Henry Commentary Challenge." Prayerfully consider reading the whole of this devotional and practical commentary beginning at the first of the new year. That is what I plan to do, if the Lord wills.

David Bogue and James Bennett, History of the Dissenters, Vol. 3, pp. 17-18:

[George Whitefield] is said to have studied this book [Matthew Henry's commentary] literally on his knees, to have read it through four times, and to the end of his life, to have spoken of the author with the most profound veneration, ever calling him the great Mr. Henry.

There are many different editions: concise, abridged, study Bible and unabridged, single or multi-volume, online or hardcopy. The unabridged edition will, I think, provide the most spiritual benefit to the diligent student of God's Word, but I would encourage anyone who is willing to take up whichever edition is most feasible for them.

Philip Doddridge, Lectures on Preaching, in Works, Vol. 5, p. 474:

Henry is perhaps the only commentator so large that deserves to be entirely and attentively read through. -- The remarkable passages, I think, should be marked.

Other saints from the past have taken up and highly commended this exercise. To do so once in your life, if not more, I believe, will deepen one's understanding of the Word and provide the means for much rich meditation and spiritual fruit.

It is a challenge for many to read through the Bible in one year, let alone a large companion commentary. It is not a light thing to take up such a project, and perhaps some will do so only to discover that this project wasn't for them, or distractions will overtake them in their noble effort (it is worth pondering Luke 14.28 as you consider this challenge). Yet, I think there is benefit for all to be had here, whether or not one finishes (and I expect it to take more than a year, especially as one meditates upon this spiritual feast, which requires "digestion" not speed reading). I am not setting benchmarks or deadlines, but I do plan to post devotional gems as I read through the commentary, as well as encouragements along the way.

Letter from Charles Spurgeon to his son Charles, quoted in The Autobiography of Charles H. Spurgeon: 1856-1878, p. 296:

Read Matthew Henry right through, if you can, before you are married; for, after that event, I fear that Jacob may supplant him.

Join with me, if you, dear Reader, are willing, and take up your commentary on the whole Bible by Matthew Henry, and begin reading it daily starting on January 1, 2010.

May God richly bless our studies of his Word and this devotional commentary.