Preachers with Power: Four Stalwarts of the South

by Douglas F. Kelly

Douglas Kelly here reintroduces one of the richest periods of evangelical history, spanning the years 1791-1902, and captures its ethos in the lives of four of its most influential
Daniel Baker , who spent his life as a missionary and itinerant evangelist though sought by a church and two U.S. Presidents for Washington; James Henley Thornwell , equally able as a pastor and professor but best remembered as a preacher ‘wrapt in wonder at the love, humiliation and condescension of the Trinity’; Benjamin M. Palmer , who, in the words of a Jewish rabbi, ‘got the heart as well as the ear of New Orleans’; and John L. Girardeau , ‘the Spurgeon of America’, who was so remarkably used among the black people of South Carolina.
In addition to these moving lives, Dr. Kelly gives us many illuminating side-lights on Christians of the South, such as those of the Midway Church, Georgia, for whom ‘religion was a matter of their brightest hopes, their warmest feelings, their deepest convictions’. The author is not only well-qualified to write on ‘the old South’ but, more important, he inspires a fresh vision of the great lessons embodied in his subjects. He convinces us of the truth of the words of R.L. ‘The real desideratum is not new methods, but fidelity to the old, a real revival in the hearts of ministers and Christians themselves, a faith that “feels the power of the world to come”, a solemn and deep love for souls. What we need most is repentance, and not innovation.’

Genres: Biography, Church History, History

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1993

About the author

Dr. Kelly is the Professor of Theology Emeritus. Dr. Kelly received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Diploma from the University of Lyon, his B.D. from the Union Theological Seminary, and his Ph. D. from the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of many written works including, If God Already Knows, Why Pray?, Preachers with Power: Four Stalwarts of the South, New Life in the Wasteland, Creation and Change, and The Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World. His firm grasp of multiple languages and his theological competence are capably demonstrated in translating such works as Sermons by John Calvin on II Samuel. He is serving with David Wright of the University of Edinburgh as a general editor for a revision of Calvin’s Old Testament Commentaries. Before joining the faculty at RTS, Dr. Kelly traveled extensively throughout the world preaching and teaching. He was also enlisted to serve on the Jurisprudence project of The Christian Legal Society and serves on the Credentials Committee of the Central Carolina Presbytery.

Reviews

[Christian Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short volume could never fully encompass the lives of these Southern “Stalwarts.” However, Kelly does highlight how the Lord used them in mighty was in the South. Especially during a time when the country was divided. It was encouraging to learn of the unction this unknown men proclaimed the gospel with.

[Logan Almy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introductory essay on the old south and the account of revival in the days of John Girardeau (pg 134) are worth the price of admission!

[Ethan McCarter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and quick read from Kelly's lectures at a Greenville Seminary conference many years ago. The book is not intended to cover only the biographies of the four men, but focuses primarily on their preaching. This includes styles, content, focuses, and underlying methodologies along with other aspects of preaching. There's four men that Kelly covers: Daniel Baker, J.H. Thornwell, B.M. Palmer, and J.L. Girardeau. The book is easy to read and contains a lot of primary source material pulled from sermons and memoirs for the most part. The chapters on Palmer and Girardeau were excellent and deserve special attention. It's clear that Kelly himself holds these two men in high regard! The section on Baker is well done too though I thought it a bit lacking compared to Palmer and Girardeau. The section on Thornwell was the low mark in my opinion for the series. Granted, Thornwell is remembered more for his ecclesiological writings and his professorial career though he certainly was a fine preacher in Columbia. The section on him in the book was short and lacklustre, though it wasn't false information or even boring; it was simply too scant compared with the other men. It's a good read especially for those interested in a historical theology of preaching or have an interest in the Southern Presbyterian tradition.

[Kristin Nare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Kelly has unearthed the lives and beliefs of these great men, some of whom I had never heard of, and given me a longing to have been able to hear these men preach. Once again, this is the sort of niche history that hits me just right: 19th century/Southern/Calvinistic/thoroughly Christ-centered. I hope the effects of this book will linger in my heart for a long time, as I recall the self-forgetful, Christ-centered, and servant-hearted lives these men led and the power of the Spirit in their words and ministries. Highly recommend.

[Andrew Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good introduction to relatively unknown figures from American church history. Some chapters are stronger than others but these are all key figures in Presbyterian history worth knowing about.

[Miles Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good anecdotes here and some worthwhile history. It’s meant to be a sort of part biography part preaching guide. The writing is a bit clunky but still very much worthwhile reading.

[Robert Hasler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quiet joy of Baker.
The intellectual prowess of Thornwell.
The unwavering compassion of Palmer.
The sanctified imagination of Girardeau.

[Stuart Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Kelly does an excellent job of highlighting the ministries of four preachers in the old south during times of Gospel revival. He explores the lives and preaching styles of Daniel Baker, James Henley Thornwell, Benjamin Morgan Palmer and John Girardeau. He also makes a plea to return to the Gospel fidelity found in the lives and preaching ministries of these men.

Kelly is quick to point out that the success of these men in their ministries is first due to God's sovereign providence, but he also shows what they had in common that God used to make His Gospel known. Kelly says "On the one hand, there was immense respect for the highest intellectual, theological learning... But secondly, there could be found personal, heart religion, manifested in an unashamed devotion to Jesus, literal acceptance of Scripture and thirsty longing for Spirit-sent revival." In all of these men there was a balance between intellect and heart. They were all commited to precise, rational theology that applied itself in real ways to real people who had real Gospel conversions. With wise warning Kelly points out the dangers of having a ministry that does not walk the ballancing beam of mind and heart. On the one hand you have charasmatic, personal experience that gives us new revelation equal to the Holy Scriptures, and as an overreaction to this on the other you have dead orthodoxy.
Kelly says "There are some who even assert that God does not guide his people directly through providence and through the gentle nudgings of the Holy Spirit, but only intellectually through understanding the general principles of his Word. This is contray to the doctrine of Calvin (and I believe of the New Testament) on the necessity of the illumination of the Holy Spirit in the believer in order to receive the Scriptures... Thus these historic Calvinistic beliefs and practices appear to be dismissed by some who fear that they may leave the door open to irrationalism... The work of the Holy Spirit is unconsciously replaced by an inordinate trust in the ability of some particular system of apologetics..."

Rather these men showed that God uses his means, the foolishness of preaching Christ and him crucified, to accomplish his work. Their focus was always Christ, never on their on personal experience or apologetical systems. "As I survey the focus of [their:] preaching... it is above all this absence of emphasis on self, and in its stead the delighted commitment to proclaiming Christ in the fullness of scriptural truth..."

Kelly makes this an enjoyable read with his vivid writing style and word pictures. He is able at getting across ideas and having a well rounded perspective. At points in his description of the lives and deaths of these great men, he had me in tears.

[JR Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of four southern preachers in the late 18th and 19th centuries, focusing on their ministries, the historical and social contexts they lived in, and their style and content of their sermons. It was nice to read this because it took less "concentrating" when reading, to understand and comprehend the content-unlike the technical and convoluted material I have been delving into of late (see 752 page Apologetics work!).

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprised of four short biographies of 19th century Southern Presbyterian preachers, this book also examines their preaching and ministries. I found it to be inspiring, encouraging, thoughtful, and Christ-exalting. The piece on Daniel Baker was my personal favorite.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives us four brief glimpses into the lives of key leaders in the Building of the Church in the south. Well worth reading.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun beginning to Southern Presbyterianism. Kelly develops a lot of these themes in his essay on Dabney in Reformed Theology in America (ed. David Wells).

[mpsiple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenging and encouraging, a fun read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, soul-stirring, and an informative work about 4 figures of Christian history that should not be forgotten.