Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Vol. II by D. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., Jefferson Ave., Grand Rapids, Mich. $4.50, 337 pages, 1960.

It was a pleasure to read this second volume of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermons on the Sermon on the Mount. These sermons arc typical of Dr. Jones’ exegetical preaching of the Word of God. They arc characterized by a deep devotion to God and a sincere love for and faithfulness to the Word. It is refreshing to read sermons of a well-known preacher who believes sincerely in the absolute authority of Scripture. Nor arc these careful expositions of Matthew 6 and 7 pedantic. More than many often he makes his preaching essentially practical. He has discovered the art of effective communication of the Word to the practical affairs of life. It would be very difficult to read this volume without a keen sense of the fact that this message of our Lord is most pertinent in our Christian lives today.

In Matthew 6 Dr. Jones finds a “picture of the Christian living his life in this world in the presence of God” who is his Father. These sermons show the basis and meaning of prayer, expound the nature of faith. emphasize the sovereignty of God and his care for his people. and continually point to the necessity of confident trust in God and submission to him.

In the 7th chapter Jones finds running throughout the theme of judgment. Certainly a careful reading of this section will help equip the child of God for a more careful discernment as he examines himself in comparison to the standard of God and seeks to discern between the true and the false. He should be better equipped to build his house on the solid rock.

Only in a few places would I take exception to the teaching of this profitable and inspiring book. Dr. Jones conceives of man as a trichotomous being consisting of body, soul, and spirit (page 97f.). He views the fall as disturbing the created order by placing the affections and will above the created superiority of the mind. It seems to me that in this chapter he fails to do adequate justice to the Scriptural teaching of the noetic (pertaining to the mind-Ed.) effects of sin due perhaps to his unduly complex division of the nature of man.

It may have been an oversight when, in the midst of a stimulating discussion of Christian witness, he says (page 189 ) that we should never discuss any other doctrine but the doctrine of justification by faith with an unbeliever. To establish his point that the doctrine of justification must be basic, he overstates his case. It is true, as he says, that the unbeliever cannot understand other doctrines, but he neglects to state that he can not understand justification by faith either except by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere in his clear emphasis on the divine sovereignty and grace and on the need for a full evangelism it seems clear that he did not intend what seems to be the import of this statement.

This is a book that ought to be studied carefully by every minister of the Word, available in church libraries, and strongly recommended to elders and laymen alike. We read many of these sermons together as a family and they proved a rich blessing to the older children as well as to their parents. They could be read in Christian families with much profit.

FRANCIS E. MAHAFFY

De twee getuigen H. VELDKAMP 237 pp. T. Wever, price f 8.90

Here is another book from the prolific pen of Veldkamp, wcll-lcoown among those who can read Dutch works. In forty-cight chapters be introduces us to the messagee of Haggai and Zechariah. Each is a meditation or brief essay on a salient text. In his pointed and practical way he explains the significance of the Lord’s word first for the days of the prophets and then for believers in our age. Illuminating insights and incisive phrases make every page sparkle. The material gives every evidence of sound exegetical study. Often the complaint Is heard that the “minor” prophets are neglected In and by the church. Many offer as excuse that they are hard to understand. By seizing upon isolated texts and treating these topically a grave injustice Is done to the organic unity of Scripture which always points the way to Christ Jesus, the eternal word. Veldkamp possessed to a high degree the gift of making the fullness of God’s grace in Christ known through his explanation of many Old Testament books. This volume constitutes no exception.

Not only may preachers find here a wealth of stimulating material; all God’s people who read these passages will be strengthened and sustained in the faith which overcomes the world.

PETER Y. DE JONG