Then again, I fail to see how any Christian bibliophile could not enjoy a book about books.
In this work Spurgeon gives brief evaluations on commentaries on the whole Bible and specific parts of it. These commentaries are of varying shades of opinion and it is fascinating to get Spurgeon's take on the great expository works of the ages.
The sad part of the book is reading Spurgeon's harsh comments about J.N. Darby and 'Darbyism.' Spurgeon recommends some of CH Mackintosh's commentaries on the Pentateuch, and a few other Brethren works, but expresses his contempt for 'Darbyism.'
Spurgeon inluded in his catalogue two works by Darby, 'Practical Reflections on the Psalms' and Studies in the Book of Daniel'. Sadly, he did not include Darby's greatest and most readable (just about) work, the 'Synopsis of the Books of the Bible'. Spurgeon made one memorable comment on Darby:
If the author would write in plain English, his readers would probably discover that there is nothing very valuable in his remarks.
It is true that Darby's prose was absolutely appalling, but it is unfortunate that Spurgeon was unwilling to look beyond his opaque style.
Significantly, it must be said that there is none of the dogamtic amillennialism (or rather anti-millennialism) in this book that one finds in many Reformed circles today. Spurgeon gave very positive recommendations to such Premillennial works as Tregelles 'Daniel the Prophet' and B.W. Newton's 'Thoughts on the Apocalypse'.
7 comments:
Matthew, have you ever looked back at the open-closed split involving Bethesda? I was curious to get you impressions.
TK, there are not many objective accounts of that affair.
Most of those outside the Brethren will be inclined to sympathise with Muller rather than Darby.
I am not sure that Darby was entirely in the wrong. I am not without some sympathy for his party.
If you have any specific questions about it I will do my best to answer.
God Bless
Matthew
Shane said,
I really like your site on J.N. Darby. He was one of the most interesting, yet underrated in his influence on theology. A lot of believers don't know who he is, unlike Wesley or Calvin. I recently purchased Darby's "Synopsis of the Bible", I was curious what you think of this work? He has a unique writing style. Thanks for your time.
Shane, thanks for visiting.
I think the Synopsis is definitely his best work and is certainly easier to read than most of the stuff in his collected writings.
God Bless
Matthew
"Unbrotherly Brethren" is a remark Spurgeon made. His true feelings toward J.N.D.have never been either stated publicly or written. Consider Spurgeon's holiness of charactor and Christ-like manner of thought and speech to understand his true feelings towards J.N.D. for Spurgeon was a most intimate friend of George Muller and emulated the same in establishing his own orphanage. He despised J.N.D.'s treatment of G.M. over the Bathesda debacle. J.N.D. despised all who refused to adopt his dispensationalist views, and fell out with them all over one issue or another. Nor was Darby truly the father of dispensationalism, but Edward Irving
Thanks for visiting.
The clain that Edward Irving invented Dispensationalism is nonsense.
While Darby was aware of Irving's ideas and there are some similarities, there are major differences.
I think you should study Darby's writings carefully and do some less polemical background reading on the subject.
God Bless
Matthew
I admire the politeness of your reply, God bless you too
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