Alexander Whyte has been a favorite among ministers and lay people alike for years. While probably best known for his 6-volume series on characters in the Bible, his sermons have certainly carried their own weight.
This collection of sermons focuses entirely on prayer, and is sure to bless you.
This edition also features an Active Table of Contents.
Contents: Part I I. The Magnificence of Prayer II. The Geometry of Prayer III. The Heart of Man and the Heart of God
Part II IV. Jacob—Wrestling V. Moses—Making Haste VI. Elijah—Passionate in Prayer VII. Job—Groping VIII. The Psalmist—Setting the Lord Always Before Him IX. The Magnificence of Prayer X. Our Lord—Sanctifying Himself XI. Our Lord in the Garden XII. One of Paul's Prayers XIII. One of Paul's Thanksgivings XIV. The Man Who Knocked At Midnight
Part III XV. Prayer to the Most High XVI. The Costliness of Prayer XVII. Reverence in Prayer XVIII. The Pleading Note in Prayer XIX. Concentration In Prayer XX. Imagination in Prayer XXI. The Forgiving Spirit in Prayer XXII. The Secret Burden XXIII. The Endless Quest
Alexander Whyte was a Scottish theologian, minister and Principal of New College, Edinburgh. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1898.
Whyte studied divinity at the University of Aberdeen and then at New College, Edinburgh, graduating in 1866. He entered the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland and after serving as colleague in Free St. John's, Glasgow (1866 - 1870), moved to Edinburgh as colleague and successor to Rev. Dr. Robert Candlish at Free St. George's. In 1909 he succeeded Dr. Marcus Dods as Principal, and Professor of New Testament Literature, at New College, Edinburgh.
This book opened my eyes to what prayer can be. Alexander Whyte's sermons were written from a place of deep interest and excitement, which makes this an enjoyable read. One cannot read this book and remain unaffected by his importunate calling to pray with all of one's intellect, desire, imagination, and heart. He carries that rich, Victorian vocabulary that initially makes his prose slow going, but eventually can be appreciated without distraction.
I'm treasuring a few takeaways. My favorite was from the sermon on imagination in prayer. Whyte ascribes a dignity to the imagination unlike any other preacher I've heard. He asserts that through imagination dwelling on Scripture and on the qualities of God, we grow closer to God. If we are to love God with all our hearts and minds, then it follows that our imaginations can be trained to grow in the same direction, towards the light, as well.
Another theme I appreciated was how often Whyte called out the urgency of prayer. This is such a needed reminder in the Age of Distraction. If prayer is being with and talking to our Father, then it's the most important habit we could ever have. Yet the temptation is to just squeeze it into the cracks. I LOVE Whyte's valuation of prayer, his desperation to be with God. It's admirable just how deeply he was drawn to prayer.
These sermons are a gift to hungry souls seeking and searching after God. I have no doubt that readers will be prompted and provoked to pray with the reading of each sermon.
Eugene Peterson said he read one of Whyte's sermons every Sunday morning for 30 years while he was a pastor. I started doing that with this book about 4 weeks ago. It is a powerful practice and I have been challenged by his sermons.
I've read several books on prayer. My two favorites are A Praying Life (Paul E. Miller) and this one by Scottish preacher Alexander Whyte (1836-1921). A masterful collection of 23 sermons. I rarely read one of these sermons without being enlightened, encouraged, and motivated.