Six More Items Recently Read

The Man Who Drew London: Wenceslaus Hollar in Reality and Imagination by Gillian Tindall

I am a fan of the Puritan Richard Bernard and many years ago I noticed that Wenceslaus Hollar had drawn a portrait of him for a posthumous book. I then saw this book at a discount somewhere. Some years passed and then I finally read it. Getting hold of info on Hollar seems to be difficult and so Gillian Tindall has supplemented her research with some speculative biographical sections. I appreciate the effort but I found these a little tedious to be truthful, especialy knowing that it was sepculative. May be some other method would have worked better. Not much on Hollar though and this is pretty decent. Sorry I took so long to get round to such an important man.

Memorial : the mystery of Mary of Bethany by Dolores Kimball

This is a book by a woman about a woman and so I should not have been surprised that it is written for women, although it doesn't actually say that on the cover. Anyway, it's a short and interesting book for the most part. I would disagree on certain points I guess (eg I'm pretty sure Mary Magdalene and this woman were the same woman) but some good points are made.

A Short History of the World in 50 Animals by Jacob F. Field

This is a great idea for a book. All the expected ones are there such as cows and sheep and fleas and bees. Some individual animals are highlighted such as Leika the space dog, Hans the counting horse and Dolly the sheep. Bats, rats, cats and many others are all there. Missing? Locusts, donkeys. The book is hampered by its evolutionary assumptions but if you ignore these it is a fascinating read. The dodo and dinosaur are there, of course. Did you know that beavers had iron edged teeth and that a child could fit into a blue whale's arteries?

The Two Prophets to Nineveh: Goodness and Severity in Jonah and Nahum by James E. McCarthy

This is a great idea for a commentary. Jonah is very well known but Nahum much less so. However, both concern Nineveh and by treating them in the same little book the writer covers a sixth of the minor prophets in brief but relevant fashion. McCarthy has good illustrations and is very thorough with the text and all could learn from what he writes and how he writes. This is an excellent little commentary well worth getting hold of.

Distinct Communion: The Believer's Relations with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by Dan Peters

This is a brilliant book - cogent, well written and betraying a very well read author. Most Reformed ministers know about John Owen and his advocacy of communion with all three persons of the Trinity but this book builds on that and explores the whole subject with some panache. Besides Owen, he explores Goodwin and Durham (with whom he is less than pleased) and the pulpit prayers of C H Spurgeon, which are held up to us as exemplars. The final chapter considers whether we should pray to the Holy Spirit, something I have not seen dealt with anywhere else, despite it being an obvious question. This is in the Christian Focus Mentor series and so is intended for ministers and Bible college students but I believe many more could benefit from this well written tome. My only very slight disappointment was the distracting and unnecessary use of the generic feminine pronoun.

Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel

Antisemitism is a fascinating subject. When I saw this book in a secondhand shop I immediately bought it and have now read it. (David Baddiel lives in this area, as do many Jews). Baddiel's simple point is that antisemitism is not taken seriously enough and tends to be placed lower in the hierarchy of racisms. He also points out the fundamental inconsistency in the way most people think of Jewish people. From the time I was converted I was encouraged to love the Jewish people and have tried never to be antisemitic or racist towards anyone but if I am honest, I am guilty. This book helped me to see this again. More than once Baddiel quotes people defending Jews and I think fine, no problem, only to find him pointing out the subtle racism hidden in the quote. One could try and dismiss that as being pernickety but I think there is a genuine issue. It is also interesting, as a Christian (as perseuted as Jews if not more) to see his take on things. (One other thing is that without excusing Jeremy Corbyn, he does appear to explain what happened).

Six Items Recently Read

Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

The Rip Van WInkle story is better known by name than actuality. To avoid confusion let me advise that Van WInkle sleeps only twenty years not a hundred and time goes by in the usual way. Crucially he misses the American Revolution and so when he sleeps, George III is King and when he awakes the American Republic has come into existence. It is a well told story, a little old fashioned and mysogynistic in its view of marriage, perhaps. It is chiefly good fun. This edition includes four Rackham colour plates and is based on a 1905 edition.

The Grace of Repentance (Redesign) (Today's Issues) by Sinclair B. Ferguson

Came across this short book recently (at the Catalyst Conference) and read it in one sitting. It focusses on Luther's first thesis (of the 95) and Psalm 51 and is a very good all levels discussio of a vital subject that is too often neglected. Good to pass on.

Preaching for God's Glory (redesign) (Today's Issues) by Alistair Begg

There are a few good books on expository preaching, the good thing about this one is that it is short and punchy and memorable. He quotes Stott, Dick Lucas, Lloyd-Jones and (sadly) Roy Clements as well as older writers. One fears he may fall into the trap of claiming that exposition is everything but he does not make that mistake quite. Read in one sitting a long time after the publication date.

Gospel Evidences of Saving Faith (Puritan Treasures for Today) by John Owen

This nicely presented little work is one of Owen's lesser known practical items. It is well worth reading as it recalls the Christian to holy living and repentance. This whole series from RHB looks like a very worthwhile effort.

Spurgeon's Forgotten Sabbatarianism: Examining the Role of the 4th Commandment in His Life and Theology by Brandon Rhea

Academic pieces don't always translate easily into popular works but this one does okay. It picks up on a forgotten or overlooked aspect of Spurgeon's life and writing - his adherence to the Lord's Day Christian Sabbath. It is not difficult for Dr Rhea to establlish his thesis and it is useful to have the full evidence of the position that Spurgeon (like many others) took. Spurgeon's position would be considered extreme even in conservative circles today, perhaps, but he is shown to be consistent with his roots and Scripture and he stands as a loud reminder to us that we really need to take this matter more seriously.

Is the Trinity Practical? by Ryan M. McGraw

This brief but helpful booklet by systematician Ryan McGraw begins by raising the question of whether the Trinity matters, moves on to what Trinitarian devotion looks like and then describes three pracical ways all this can be implemented in our lives - by developing a Trinitarian piety, seeing the importance of unity and diversity in church life and gaining great comfort from the work of all three. Good stuff.

Birthday Books 2026

Once again the family have been very kind. These are from my wife and sons. (One son made sure he didn't buy me a book as he doesn't like to be too predictable, so I had other good things from him.)

Day Off Week 20 2026

There were a few thigs to be done first thing but once they were sorted I could focus on reading. There was time too for a coffee out and a bt of TV but it was mostly reading.

New Day One Book Now Out

 More details here

10 more interesting words found in The world around the Old Testament (Arnold/Strawn)

1. abecedary - an alphabet book, primer, or an inscription that lists the letters of an alphabet in order
2. appanage - a provision made for the maintenance of the younger children of kings and princes, consisting of a gift of land, an official position, or money
3. chthonic - relating to or inhabiting the underworld
4. orthostat - an upright stone or slab forming part of a structure or set in the ground
5. sedentist - a person who stays in ooen place for a long time (opposite to nomad)
6. bucolic - of or relating to shepherds or herdsmen or typical of rural life
7. hypocoristic - a pet name or diminutive form of a name
8. glyptic - of or concerning carving or engraving
9. theonym - the name of a deity
10. ethnolinguistic - associated with a particular ethnicity and a particular variety of language

10 interesting words found in The world around the Old Testament (Arnold/Strawn)

1. littoral - relating to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake
2. floruit - a date or period during which a person or people was known to have been alive or active
3. alluvium - loose, unconsolidated soil, silt, sand, gravel or clay deposited by running water,
4. ramified - to ramify is to form branches
5. lodestar - a star used to guide a ship on its travels
6. sapiential - relating to wisdom
7. onomasticon - a collection or listing of words especially in a specialised field. Here, a collection or listing of proper names of persons or places usually with etymologies.
8. rhyton - a roughly conical container from which fluids were drunk or poured in some ceremony such as libation or merely at table;. A cup, typically formed in the shape of either an animal's head or horn; in the latter case often terminating in the shape of an animal's body.
9. colophon - In manuscripts, a note, usually at the end, left by a scribe, giving information on his exemplar, where and when the copy was made, and sometimes, his own name. In printed material, a printer or publisher's identifying inscription or logo, at the front or end of a book and/or on the spine or dust jacket.
10. autochthonos - of an inhabitant of a place, indigenous rather than descended from migrants or colonists.

Nine Books Read Recently

No Hopeless Future: Expositions on the Book of Ruth?Dale Ralph Davis

It is always good news when a new Dale Ralph Davis volume appears even if it is as brief as these five chapters. This one is a little different to the usual in that these are sermons that have been written down with no footnotes and only minor changes from the spoken versions. The ususal elements - striking illustrations, lightly worn schoarship and rigorous expsiton are there as in the other works. Thank you Christian Focus and Major Burnam (the original transcriber).

Thirty Second Theology: Questions and Answers to Build Your Fait/Sinclair Ferguson

This is a catechism for teeanagers with a modern twist. It covers the beatitudes, the commandments, the Lord's Prayer, etc. Baptists will bristle at some phrases.

The Great Post Office Scandal - the extraordinary story behind the recent ITV drama: The fight to expose a multimillion pound IT disaster which put innocent people in jail/Nick Wallis

This is a very full and thorough account of the terrible way a large number of Post Office Subpostmasters were treated up to around 2022. The problems were caused, it would seem, by errors in the Horizon computer system, errors that the makers Fujitsu and the Post Office who used it have been extremely slow to own up to. It is a lesson in how very wrong things can go when people are less concerned with honesty and kindness than they are with profit and reputation. The book is well written but inevitably a little tedious and drawn out at times. Glad to have got the full story (so far).

Entitled: the rise and fall of the House of York Andrew Lownie

I have also recently read a book called Entitled about Andrew and Fergie. It is rather a depressing book in many ways as it describes, I think fairly accurately, the lives of two once married individuals and the excesses that they have given themselves to down the years. I don't suppose they are very different to the average Jack and Jill but because they have been exposed to so many temptations and have so often given in, we end up with a pretty discouraging state of affairs, to the extent, in Andrew's case, that he appears to be guilty of punishable crimes. Not at any point in the book do they seem to have come under the sound of the gospel and they do not seem to realise the need to repent and find forgiveness in Christ, which is their only hope. We do not know how it will all turn out before they die but it would not be a surprise if more came out. Andrew Lownie has thoroughly researched the story. He presents quite a different version of how the infamous interview with Andrew came together and appears to be quite convinced that Jeffrey Epstein did not kill himself. He is also quite convinced that Andrew is guilty of sex crimes.

The Noble Liar: How and why the BBC distorts the news to promote a liberal agenda Robin Aitken

I was alerted to this book back in 2019 but only got round to reading it more recenty. Aitken is Roman Catholic and very conservative and one would not want to accept everything he says but he makes some good and helpful points with regard to the bias clearly detectable within the BBC. What he has to say about Tommy Robinson is most interesting. Other topics covered include feminism, religion and Islam. Well worth a read.

(These last three I read on kindle)

Christians and slavery Ian F Shaw

This is a book that needed to be written in light of there being so much discussion about this subject at the moment. Dr Shaw has writen very helpfully giving an accurate history of the relevant material and outlining the stance that various Christians took on the subject, people like Dabney and Machen coming out badly and Warfield and the Particualr Baptists much better. The second part of the book deals with some of the questions the history raises such as reparations and so on. It is a very helpful and interesting book.

100 Children's Books: that inspire our world/Colin Salter

Lovely book with two pages per book, one with writing and one with cover art. The books are for all ages and set out chronologically. Of the hundred books, I had read around twenty of them. Also some of the fifty listed as the second tier (eg Tom Brown's Schooldays). Some few books I had never heard of. One or two I thought I might like to try soon.

Then there have been two beautiful books aimed at children, beautifully presented. Beautiful books, aimed at kids I guess but lovely for all. These are

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost with illustrations by P J Lynch

The Fox and the Star by Coralie Bickford-Smith

10 Illustrators of Alice

1. John Tenniel, first editions published by Macmillan, London: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 1865, Through the Looking Glass 1871.
2. Arthur Rackham, published by Heinemann in 1907 in a limited edition of 1,130 copies; also a trade edition in a smaller format.
3. Mabel Lucie Attwell, published by Raphael Tuck in 1910
4. Mervyn Peake, first published by Zephyr, Sweden in 1946 and then by Wingate, London in 1954
5. Salvador Dalí, published by Maecenas Press, New York in 1969
6. Anthony Browne, published by MacRae in 1985. Winner of the Kurt Maschler Award.
7. Helen Oxenbury, Alice published by Walker in a signed limited edition in 1999 & Looking-Glass in 2005 Oxenbury won the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Kurt Maschler Award for Alice
8. Peter Blake, Looking-Glass only; published in a signed limited edition by D3 Editions in 2004.
9. Ralph Steadman, Alice published by Dobson in 1967 & Looking-Glass published by MacGibbon & Kee in 1972
10. Tove Jansson, Swedish edition, 1966; first English-language edition published in 1977 by Delacorte Press, New York; first UK edition by Tate Publishing in 2011

(This is just a selection there loads and loads more, See list in wikipedia,)

Christmas Books 2026

One of the nice things about Christmas is the acquiring of new books. Half of the ten above I bought myself (Poem for every day, Xmas Quiz Book, Dickens and Christmas, an ebook on the Post Office scandal and the devotional based on Messiah by Dave Gobbett and his wife). The other five were gifts (Poem for every night, DK Xmas book, Alistair Begg's Xmas devotional, The redeemed man collection and the Book of 100 childre's books). I have read the DK Xmas book and the book introduing a hundred childrem's books. I didn't quite finish either of the two devotionals and the poetry books will hopefully finsihed by the end of the year. I started the Dickens book and am reading the one on the Post Office.

Day Off Week 51 2025

Had another reading day last Tuesday. I read the various books that I am reading day by day at the moment. With those I also read a book called Entitled about Andrew and Fergie. It is rather a depressing book in many ways as it describes, I think fairly accurately, the lives of two once married individuals and the excesses that they have given themselves to down the years. I don't suppose they are very different to the average Jack and Jill but because they have been exposed to so many temptations and have so often given in, we end up with a pretty discouraging state of affairs, to the extent, in Andrew's case, that he appears to be guilty of punishable crimes. Not at any point in the book do they seem to have come under the sound of the gospel and they do not seem to realise the need to repent and find forgiveness in Christ, which is their only hope. We do not know how it will all turn out before they die but it would not be a surprise if more came out. Andrew Lownie has thoroughly researched the story. He presents quite a different version of how the infamous interview with Andrew came together and appears to be quite convinced that Jeffrey Epstein did not kill himself. He is also quite convinced that Andrew is guilty of sex crimes.

Day Off Week 50 2025

Had one of my reading days last Tuesday. There are a number of books that I am reading day by day at the moment. With those I am reading other Chrstmas books including this Washington Irving book that I picked up recently and have now finished. The book contains the most beautiful writing in a most beautifully illustrated book. American Irving simply describes a few days in England at Christmas, staying at an old house whose lord is a great lover of the old traditions, especially at Christmas. The book is charming and also provides a limited amount of information on the background, particlalrly in a series of footnotes at the end of the book. Undoubtedly, the Puritans took a wrong turn when they banned Christmas. They certainly meant well and it would be a mistake to suppose that an Irving Christmas is typical of pagan celebrations but the idea of enjoying yourself in winter is not something any Christian should have too many qualms about.

The WInter's Tale

This lovely book retells the story of Shakespeare's late and lesser known Winter's Tale. It is beautifully illustrated and would be a great present for a child or an imaginative adult. I'm loving it. The reteller is Georghia Ellinas and the artist Jane Ray. It isndone by Shakespeare's Globe.

Six Books Recently Read

Among books recently read are Loving the Law by Stephen Spinnenweber. This is This is a little stick of dynamite. It covers quite basic Reformed theology with regards to the Law and relies mainly on basic sources such as Calvin, the Westminster catechisms, Matthew Henry, Ernest Kevan and Puritan writers. Having said that I'm not sure where you would turn for a similar tome. I have plenty of books that take me through the Commandments but few that begin with a general piece on the three types of law and end with a discussion of the the three uses. Great stuff.

I also read a couple of books by the prolific Tim Chester. Angels is a very brief book that covers the basics fairly uncontroversially. Behind it, is a good reading list in the subject and allied matters. The temptation to speculate is pretty much avoided. I also read the first of a set of bite-size biographies have done. Istarted with Aidan of Lindisfarne as the most obscure. He competently cover the bases.

I also read a little book on Psalm 22 by Paul Mallard and Hope for all the earth an Old Testament survey by *. Short books are popular these days and Mallard's one excellently surveys Psalm 22 pointing firmly to the cross and to the resurrection. In six chapters he takes us from Good Friday to Easter monday. Mitchell CHase's work is the shortest of surveys of the Old Testament and is a useful primer or refresher for anyone who wants to get a good idea of the sweep of the Old Testament. Several significant dates are included without argument and incorporated in a chart at the beginning. I should know more of those dates than I do. They would be worth committing to memory.

Figureheads I picked up at the maritime museum in Greenwich. It is a lavishly illustrated hardback and a lovely introduction to the fascinating world of figureheads on ships. Sometimes a bit of detective work is needed on the figures that survive but mostly the book provides an insight into Greek legend, famous people and the history of the British merchant and royal navies.

Day Off Week 28 2025

Another day off last Tuesday. Main things was reading the Tim Dieppe book, very interesting, and one or two other things. I also listened to some editions of More or Less from the Radio 4 archive, something I haven't done in a while. Also had a chipotle and a coffee.

Seven Books Recently Read

Robert Stephenson: an illustrated life (Shire) D J Smith

Having recently read the books on Telford and Brunel, it seemed obvious to turn next to the one on Robert Stephenson, which once again is brief, well illustrated and to the point. There are passing references to Telford and Brunel, and also Trevithick and Peto for that matter. I have known Stephenson as the inventor of the Rocket since childhood but I still could not explain to you why it was important. There were so many advances being made in the world of railways at the time that it gets bewildering. Stephenson seems a quiet man, diffident even. Like Brunel, he loved a good cigar. I had no idea he had spent time in South America.

Wind in the Willows (Chiltern) Kenneth Grahame

Just finished reading this lovely Chiltern Classics edition. I must have read it before now and been informed by the various TV versions that have come along at regular intervals. Like so much children's literature it was originally Kenneth Grahame's bed time stories for his son. I like the way that the chief animals (mole, rat, toad, badger) are perfectly human without any explanation and toad especially can interact with humans without any problem. Grahame is clearly a careful observer of creation and writes well. It is a very English book I guess and while reflecting its pre-Great War time, there is a timeless quality about it to some extent. It is a little mystical but has more to say about friendship than animism, I guess.

The Abiding Presence Hugh Martin (Christian Focus)

All my Christian life I have heard people recommend the writings of the 19th century Scots Presbyterian Hugh Martin but somehow I have never got round to reading anything by him. Then last month I was at a conference where one of his books was being given away to some and was only £5 to others and so I bought "The abiding presence" (originally Christ's presence in the Gospel history) and read it. The book begins by making the point that no ordinary book of memoirs concludes with the promise, ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’ But the biography of Jesus is no mere commemoration of the departed; his promise makes the Gospel account a living history. He explores things very carefully and helpfully and provides us with a brilliant book of teaching. I particularly liked the way he pointed out that when Christ was baptised, he identified with us sinners and when we are baptised, we identify with him. It has made me want to read his other books.

All the Knowledge in the World: The Extraordinary History of the Encyclopaedia Simon Garfield

I often enjoy books by journalist types and I have enjoyed other things by Simon Garfield. This cleverly written (he employs an alphabetical approach) survey of the history of encyclopaedias is right up my street. We never had Britannica though my mother would like to have bought it and we certainly had other things in the same sort of league (including some second hand Arthur Mees and some Grolier volumes as well as the Waverley one volume and the Collins modern). This paperback takes you all the way from the earliest books of knowledge through to Wikipedia which has come only in the last 25 years. It was so unpredictable and yet here it is. Truth is you can't cram knowledge into a bottle really and our ultimate need is wisdom not more knowledge. Very enjoyable read.

Life and Works of Munch Amanda O'Neill

I love this series of books. Somehow I missed this volume on Munch's existence until recently. The Norwegian is a fascinating artist well worthy of inclusion alongside Monet, Manet, Modigliani and the others. There is the usual three page introduction then a series of 40 or so wonderful reproductions with short comments for each. There is something rather sad about Munch's life and works and yet dignified and life affirming too.

Life and Works of Arcimboldo Diana Craig

Well illustrated and informative like the others in this lovely series of which there are over fifty. The formula is a three page intro and then short comments with the pictures that appear on every page practically. Arcimboldo is a sixteenth century artist who served the Holy Roman Emperors of his day and yet he is almost Surrealist in most of his works - no wonder they liked him. (There are also some pen and wash sketches that are quite different to the oils). Unusually in this volume there are some paintings not by the artist or dubious, demonstrating how he was often copied. One of his most famous surreal portraits may be of Calvin.

The Emotional Life of Our Lord (Crossway Short Classics) B B Warfield

With its William Morris cover and its bijou presentation, this work is a joy to hold and the content deserves such treatment. With a foreword by Sinclair Ferguson and the briefest of biographical notes, this piece by Warfield, which is not in his published works, is a real gem. In his usual surefooted style, he explores the Gospel references to Christ's emotions or affections and draws careful conclusions. It is a blessing to read such warm and sober reflection on matters that lie at the heart of the faith. I must check out the other items in the series.

Day Off Week 27 2025

Most of yesterday's day off went on reading this lovely book about maps by Simon Garfield. I read half of it. Got out for a coffee and a bite to eat too. Very hot. We have someone staying and we had a nice meal with them in the garden. Also took some more books to a charity shop and bought a new notebook and pen from Rymans.

Two Days Off Week 26 2025

It's rare but I went for the two days off the beginning of this week and I think that was wise. I did have my regular meeting with my assistant and an hour with one of my deacons and looked over my sermons for next Sunday but it was mostly just reading. I finished the nice Wind in the Willows I had for my birthday and the book on encyclopedias I had for Father's Day plus one of my art books on Arcimboldo ) a re=read) and a little bit of another Hugh Martin book. We had a visitor here on Monday night and I watched some cricket with him (something I almost never do) on Tuesday night Eleri and I watched a bit of TV. I went out for a coffee at some point but didn't do the walking I should have.

10 The Lives

There are some well known collections of Lives (and some less well known)

1. The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius
2. The Lives of the Artists by Vasari
3. The Lives of the most eminent English Poets by Samuel Johnson (Milton, Swift, Dryden, etc)
4. Parallel Lives by Plutarch (23 paired lives of Greeks and Romans)
5. The Lives of the Saints by the Venerable Bede (ie "The Voyage of St Brendan", Bede's "Life of Cuthbert" and Eddius's Life of Wilfred)
6. The Lives of Early Methodist Preachers: Chiefly Written by Themselves.(Six volume 19th century work)
7. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England by Antonia Fraser
8. The Lives of the prime ministers of England from the Restoration to the present time Volume 1 by J Houston Browne (1858)
9. American Caesars: Lives of the US Presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush by Nigel Hamilton
10. The Lives of the Novelists by John Sutherland (294 lives)

John Fawcett

This book which I downloaded in electronic form and read on kindle is a full and leisurely account of the life and ministry of the author's father. It includes many quotes from Fawcett's journal, letters to and from him and his poetry. A rambling book, its 440 pages could easily be reduced by half and still be worth reading. I read it at a quick pace seeking out information for a paper I am to give on Fawcett next month. Fawcett, a Particular Baptist pastor in Hebdenbrodge, Yorkshire, was clearly a godly man, a fine preacher and a force to be reckoned with in his day (1740-1817). At the end of the book are two of his sermons.