The Christian Contemplated in a Course of Lectures; Delivered in Argyle Chapel, Bath

by William Jay

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ... A freedom (whatever advantages they may afford him by their collectiveness and arrangements) from the fetterings and exchisiveness of human systems of theology-- a freedom from the least sense of any obligation requiring him, in the interpretation and improvement of any passage of Scripture before him, to force its natural and obvious meaning into any frame of Arminian, or Calvinistic theory or authority -- a freedom also from spiritual favoritism, and which might lead him, from partiality, to shun to declare all the counsel of God, as well as from timidity. May the Author be permitted to plead for a freedom of another kind I -- An exemption from a wish to gratify a few, at the expense of the profit of many: an exemption from fastidiousness of composition and address: an exemption from such a primness of diction, as admits of the introduction of no anecdote, however chaste, and shuts out the seizure of all hints suggested by present feelings and occurrences: an exemption from the too serious apprehension of little faults in seeking to secure great impressions. To the intimidation, and checking of the preacher here, how often is he told of the dignity of the pulpit-- as if there was any worthy or real dignity in a case like this, separate from utility ! What is the highest, and should be the most admired dignity in the preacher, but an apparent forgetfulness of every claim, but his object; and such an absorbing solicitude for the attainment of it, as leaves him unable to notice inferior things'! Without such an impression, no man can do a great work gracefully; for if in the execution he is observed to be alive and attentive to any littleness, it will revolt the beholder, instead of pleasing him. An officer in the midst of action, ...

104 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2013

Reviews

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult to rate. I didn't overly enjoy it but I can appreciate its qualities and so three stars would be deficient. But I wasn't blown away by it so I can't give it five stars. Four stars seems the necessary compromise. Maybe if I'd read it earlier on in my life I would have been more impressed by it. Or maybe, in those days before I knew anything of Jay's life and work, I wouldn't have thought much of it.

Jay was a contemporary of my favourite writer, John Angell James (co-editor of Jay's Autobiography), both popular preachers with lengthy pastorates. But personally I find John Angell James far more engaging, and thus in comparison Jay feels a bit tame. However, I do have to admit that Jay's sermons are far more closely tied to Scripture. His sermons are packed full of quotes from Scripture, where in James's sermons they would be far fewer and further between. Jay might win the admiration and emulation of some for his approach, but I find James' approach more effective. James will take Biblical doctrines and principles and then just speak away, passionately opening up his subject and making it relevant to people's lives. He was more of a pastoral figure, he had a pastor's heart. Jay tended to dissociate himself from pastoral work and saw himself as primarily there to preach, and thus he largely confined himself to his studies and sermon preparation. And that affects the presentation and the way it addresses (or fails to address) the hearts of the hearers and readers. For me, it felt thoroughly Biblical, and intensively Scriptural, (which was a good thing) but it was deficient in that it lacked those barbs needed to strike it into the reader's heart.

Some would surely disagree with me and think that the more of Scripture the better. But if it was only necessary for people to hear Scripture in order to be saved, we could dispense with preachers entirely and anybody would be capable of standing up and reading the Bible aloud to more effect. But preachers are appointed to open up the Word - not just to recite it, but to capture our attention and open our ears and soften our hearts and capture our attention and show us the way.

The purpose of my review is just to say that the contents were good, but still largely left me unmoved. Maybe others will find it more stirring than I did.